January 28, 2021 at 9:00 AM - Operations Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Meyer nominated Saeger for Chair & Ruzicka seconded.
Meyer nominated Seier for Vice Chair & Ruzicka seconded.
With no more nominations, nominations ceased.

Rationale:  There isn't any unfinished business to address.

Rationale:  We have scheduled a meeting with Scott Luedtke, Game & Parks and Jake Koenig, Pheasant Forever/NRCS Biologist for Friday, January 29th at 9:00. We will review the needed O & M for the wildlife areas on the Wanahoo property, such as haying, burning, tree removal, etc.

Rationale:  The O & M crew has been cutting trees and brush at Czechland and the Trouble Creek Dam emergency spillway. Attempted to burn some tree piles. Any other maintenance items that come up.

Rationale:  Same message as last month, Corps of Engineers is still working on closing out the project with the contractor.

Rationale:  We have encountered construction problems in developing & constructing the Wanahoo Stilling Basin. The sheet pile wall can not be driven immediately adjacent to the basin floor/sill wall because of spillover RCC when the basin floor was put in. This forces the design for the sheet pile wall to be established approximately 66" away from the basin floor creating a void between the floor and sheet pile. This would need to be filled with aggregate and concrete. This alternative #1 would cost an estimated $177,782. The other alternatives, jackhammer excess spillover and sawing excess spillover seem a bit risky. We do have DNR Dam Safety's approval with Alternative #1.
The change order is significant enough that we are being told by NEMA that FEMA should evaluate it. This can prolong the restart of construction 4-8 weeks. It does cost the District additional funds to have the contractor sitting idle. We would like to proceed and ask for FEMA's blessing later.  Valley Corp. has informed FYRA we could be facing up to $15,000 per week in delay costs as well as remobilization charges if we continue to delay their progress.

Eric is speaking with Mike Sotak from FYRA late on Wednesday and will update the committee on Mike's negotiations with Valley Corp. as it relates to delay charges and finalizing the change order.  General Manager will be requesting direction from the committee on how to proceed.

Rationale:  We are still waiting on a signature from the National Guard on the O & M Addendum between the NRD's and the Guard. This O & M Addendum covers the Clear Creek Levee within the National Guard Camp.
The O & M Manual for the entire Clear Creek Levee will be out in draft form by late February.

Rationale:  The review period for the Feasibility Report & Environmental Assessment for the Study has ended. A public virtual meeting was held on Wednesday, January 13th, at 7:00 pm to cover and review the study. Many agencies were online and maybe one person from the public.
Now the Corps of Engineers will confer with the non-Federal partners, especially the City of Fremont on how to proceed. All the structures, 127 homes & businesses, that have been identified as potentially being at risk of flood damage will need to be contacted individually. Home and business owners can then determine if they want to apply for assistance to flood proof their home or business. The cost-share rate is 65% federal and some or all of the local share (35%) can be covered by the non-federal sponsors and home/business owners.

Rationale:  We received No-till grass drill rental revenues for the second half of 2020 from Rezac Seed, $882.84 and from Rosendahl Farms Seed & Feed, $648.60.

We will have to call Schuyler CO-OP again for their report.

Rationale:  Currently the District has ordered 6,000 trees and shrubs for this Spring. Of those 6,000, just over 2,000 are obligated to machine plantings. We will take orders from the public into April.

Rationale:  As a reminder, Dodge County Emergency Management has submitted a Hazard Mitigation Grant titled "Platte River Gauge Monitoring". FEMA has finally started their review of the grant, of which they are well beyond their 90 days. The grant is asking for 75% of $27,365 which would establish up to 8 cameras and 2-3 water level sensors on Highway bridges. Phase I is to establish cameras on Hwy 64, 77, 79 and one on land in Platte County and one water level sensor at Hwy 77. The cameras and water sensors are for monitoring ice conditions and water levels during ice out on the Platte River. We are hoping it helps emergency personnel, weather service, etc. in responding to potential ice jams and flooding. To date we have one camera operating on Hwy 64. We can not proceed with any others until we hear from FEMA/NEMA on a successful grant.

Rationale:  We have not had any new applications or request for payment.

Rationale:  For the month of January, the District has received $10,387.50 in Annual Park Permit sales. See year by year comparison table below.

Calender Year	Permits Sold	Monthly Sales	YTD Toals
2021	618	$10,387.50	$15,112.50
2020	677	$11,645.00	$16.115.00
2019	609	$10,372.50	$14,957.50

Rationale:  For the month of January, the District received $7,115.70 in online camping revenue. 

Rationale:  Staff is gathering all information to submit our final request to NRDF for cost-share reimbursement on our Education building and Pork Chop Island.  Once submitted, we will review remaining available funds and consider a request for future developments.  Now that we are close to our final closeout on the entire Sand Creek Enviromental Restoration, the window on future funing will soon be closing.

Rationale:  Staff is working towards developing over four miles of new hiking trails on the Wanahoo property.  These plans include creating primitive hiking trails for two miles north of the breakwater on the east and west sides of the lake and creek.  Along these mowed trails we are planning 4-6 primitive camp sites that will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.  The creation of these primitive trails will more than double our total Wanahoo trail system and offer outdoor recreation opportunities to park goers, campers, hikers and bikers while also providing the ability for individuals to hike/bike from Wahoo to Wanahoo and points north and camp along the way.  Our goal is to have the new trails open and operational in time for a grand opening on Friday June 4th, the day before National Trails Day 2021.

Rationale:  KTIC Radio ad: 
Producers in the Lower Platte North NRD are encouraged to participate in an interactive Zoom webinar on Thursday, January 28, 2021. Starting at 6:30 p.m., Lower Platte North NRD staff along with UNL staff and guest speakers will discuss Nitrogen Applications, Manure Management and Recommendations, and Cover Crops. Registration is required. Please call 402-443-4675 to reserve your spot now!

Wahoo Newspaper eAd attached - encouraging online test option for LPNNRD producers needing to take Nitrogen certification

Rationale:  We have decided to adjust the date for the Shell Creek Watershed Scholarship Application deadline to March 15 each year. This will allow time to bring applications to the committee meeting and have a final board decision at the April board meeting. Also, scholarship recipients can be notified prior to graduation.
 

Rationale:  Meters will be read and bills will go out 2/1.  Routine monthly sampling also completed.
Emergency contact info and disaster plan was updated and sent to DHHS.

Rationale:  Meters will be read and bills will go out 2/1.  Routine monthly sampling also completed.